Come follow me

Mutual Sharing and Supporting the development of a Vocation to
the Permanent Diaconate

Doing something different and so public like the Permanent
Diaconate takes courage and so it can sometimes be a lonely journey
for those who are trying to discover what God is calling them to do
and the subsequent and path through life. Those who are searching
will value the support of family and friends; but they too will have
questions and concerns.

We all react in different ways to change and changes that
may be happening to our loved ones. The important thing is
to try to understand what the person is going through and
where they may be headed.

This section attempts to help please click here if you
have a question or concern

What will I experience

What will I experience approaching a vocation to the Diaconate?

How will being a deacon affect my ‘day job?’

Who can help Me?
First that although the ultimate relationship is
between you and God you are not and need not be,
alone. There are others also discerning to
discover if they are being called to the
Diaconate.

Who has been there?
There are serving Deacons themselves who have
trodden their path of discernment and strive to
fulfil their vocation in the Permanent Diaconate
– they can help.

There are similarities with the processes and
educational structures associated with entering
a profession for life that will take some years.
However discernment underpins and tests
throughout – not to try and put candidates off
but because a vocation goes beyond the
attainment of knowledge and qualifications.

The natural instinct to protect the one you love or care for is ever
thus.

As a wife: “I thought he was happy with his career, so why this?”

“ I have a family and/or a career - do wives have to get involved – how
much time?”

As friend: “will he change? – still able to have our weekly
pint?”

However there can be a sense that if a person enters the diaconate you
are somehow loosing them – better maybe, different , yes but our fears are a
combination of well-intended concern but often also a lack of knowledge and
information about the diaconate; this section is here to help so please
explore the steps that may lead to priesthood.